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Been looking for a bike to commute on a daily basis. One way to work it's around 16km, so i'll be on it for 32km / day at least.
Don't really what to look for... in the past i had scott mtbs but now i'm more focussed on getting there as fast as possible. Road to my work is in good shape and do not have any big hills to cross 🙂
So what can you guys suggest me for a budget of 400 - 500£
Second hand road bike, eBay, Bike Radar classifieds.
Or... Boardman.
Pompino or pompetamine from on-one? Genesis day one, something from Edinburgh bike coop? Slicked up cheap mountainbike.
Personally for me I'd be looking for singlespeed, steel, with rack and guard mounts so that it works all the time in all weathers.
What's the weather like? If you do one way into the prevailing wind and one way with it, that'll make a difference to what you're looking for. I've done similar distance commutes to several jobs and road bike with full mudguards every time for both speed and seemingly less interest from thieves than a mtb when chained to a railing.
Depending on what you need to carry, if you can get away with an old school saddlebag, it will be better balanced than a pannier.
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28mm tyres,fenders.drop bars,sti or bar end shifters.def a hub generator for the front,maybe for the rear light,a backup rear light.saddlebags are great but if you leave it outside it's a bit of a faff to get the leather straps on and off, so I'd go klickfix.some 3m reflective tape on the bike-front,rear and sides.some reflective cloth tape sewn on the saddlebag.
low gears,I'd get a triple and run 44-30 replacing the outer with a bashguard.depends on terrain of course.
but when you're tired and it's windy you'll forget the big ring mafia machismo.besides they're all in front of their computers.
something with long reach brakes.with short reach brakes you can only fit 23s and guards.
a frame pump.decent tyres.marathon supremes are good.
a rack is handy.you could use a rackbag instead of a saddlebag.I find them easier to load/take off.
a heavy lock left at work if you're leaving it outside.
a small bar mirror if you're not using bar end shifters.
spds,winter shoes summer shoes,overshoes.
that's most of what I know.
having said all that,a 3sp hub gear is nice as well.though you'll have to choose gearing carefully.
I built a 120mm 3sp pompino up for not much.killed the nexus hub,but my input ratio was lower than advised as I was using it off road.clearance for 32-35 and guards.vees brake nicely with drop bar levers.Cheap.
disc brakes might be worth having if it rains constantly.but if you keep your rims/pads clean it's not a real problem.
+1 for single speed if your commute isn;t too hilly. I did this 3 years ago and have changed the chain once brake pads once. In 3 years. It's dependable.
Like other have mentioned: full mudguards, rack, decent paniers. I've used magic shine lights quite successfully. As many red lights on the back: helmet, right harm, under saddle, on the rack, one solid and all the other flashing at different speed and patterns.
I found commuting in the dark safer as driver are more weary and can't ignore me as I am lit like a christmas tree.
Lastly: good foul weather cycling gear.
I have a Kona Dew City and can't fault it 🙂
Really prefer the singlespeed for day in day out commuting. Currently on a pompino - oil the chain once in a while and that's it.
Giant do some pretty good road bikes around that price.
never go singlespeed if the commute is across open land. My commute is currently 16.5miles, one way with the prevailing wind, the other is usually into a headwind. making progress into 15-20mph headwinds is not pleasant, think of it like going up a hill, a very long hill!!!
Another detail, spinning is less tiring on the legs which means if your doing it day in day out, it makes sense to save energy for tomorrow.
Get mudguards, good lights, consider a dynamo, tyres if the roads, are ok 23mm are fine. I use a Timbuk2 courier bag but try and take most stuff in on the days i drive.
Is the route urban or rural? if the later no point paying for disc brakes, only really make any sense if you have lots of traffic to deal with and to be fair i wouldn't bother even then.
Keep some spare tubes and a pump at work, you never know, there are times when if the tyre is soft just get to work and fix it there.
I really rate my specialized crosstrails for commuting, could do with some narrower tyres for it but its still fast and I'd recommend it for anyone not wanting to go full road.
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/detail/12crosstrail/crosstrail/crosstrail%20sport%20disc/
Its a bit on the heavy side but it does feel really solid on the road.
The pedals that came with it were pants, replaced with v8s
get a road bike; end of